Combination lock

Abstract

The combination lock includes several encoding buttons, a latch plate is slidably movable between two terminal positions and has a plurality of locking pins; a plurality of lock disks each have on one side a radial groove for respectively engaging the locking pins or being disengaged therefrom, each disk further having on its outer side a diametrical groove in which respective slide locks are permitted to slide, an encoding release slide moves said slide locks; a plurality of gears are respectively connected to the encoding buttons and positioned for engagement with the slide locks, the gears are prevented from turning, thereby preventing the encoding buttons from being turned when the respective slide lock engages the gear and the locking pins are situated in the respective radial grooves, the gears are coupled to the lock disks when the locking pins are out of the respective radial grooves, the release slide when moving the slide locks decouples the lock disks from the gears and the encoding button; and resiliently biased tumblers are associated with the gears such that the gears are releasable only in the end positions of said latch plate.

I claim: 
     
       1. Combination lock with encoding buttons extending from a lock case comprising: a latch plate slidably mounted in said case and movable between two terminal positions, the latch plate having a plurality of locking pins;   an adjustable encoding release slide;   a plurality of lock disks each having on one side a radial groove for resepctively engaging the locking pins or being disengaged therefrom, each disk further having on its other side a diametrical groove in which respective slide locks are permitted to slide, there being means in the encoding release slide for moving said slide locks;   a plurality of gears respectively connected to said encoding buttons and positioned for engagement with said slide locks, said gears being prevented from turning, thereby preventing the encoding buttons from being turned when the respective slide lock engages the gear and the locking pins are situated in the respective radial grooves, the gears being coupled to the lock disks when the locking pins are out of the respective radial grooves, said release slide when moving said slide locks decoupling the lock disks from the gears and the encoding button; and   resiliently biased tumblers associated with said gears such that the gears are releasable only in the end positions of said latch plate.   
     
     
       2. Combination lock as in claim 1 wherein said adjustable encoding release slide and said latch plate are movable in parallel directions, said tumblers being positioned for resilient replacement in an orthogonal direction. 
     
     
       3. Combination lock as in claim 1, said latch plate having additional locking pins cooperating with control slots in said tumblers to permit their release only in the terminal positions of said latch plate. 
     
     
       4. Combination lock as in claim 1, there being guide pins in said case for guiding slide movement of said release slide and of said latch plate. 
     
     
       5. Combination lock as in claim 1 and including a control slide movable in a direction transverse to a direction of movement of said latch plate, said control slide carrying a lock pin cooperating with said release slide and said latch plate such that actuation of said latch plate is prevented when said encoding release slide has a disposition in which said slide locks are decoupled from said gears. 
     
     
       6. Combination lock as in claim 1 and having a cover with a keyhole for insertion of a key, said key provided for shifting said release slide, said key being removable only when said release slide is in the release position in which said slide locks are decoupled from said gear and said locking pins are inserted in said radial grooves. 
     
     
       7. Combination lock as in claim 1, said adjustable encoding release slide being spring biased tending to pull the release slide into the release position. 
     
     
       8. Combination lock as in claim 1, there being manual operable means connected or connectable to said release slide for shifting the slide between its positions, there being an additional control slide for blocking the latch plate when the release slide is in the release position, said control slide being manually operable. 
     
     
       9. Combination lock as in claim 1 and including electric sensing means for monitoring the disposition of said release slide. 
     
     
       10. Combination lock as in claim 1 including an actuator pin on said latch plate cooperating with two bars movable in opposite directions to each other and transversely to the direction of movement of said latch plate, there being oblique slots in said bar for engagement by said actuator pin.